Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Goat Cheese Food

GOAT'S CHEESE & THYME STUFFED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Split the chicken breasts almost in half from one long side and open them out like a book. Bat them out a little with a rolling pin to flatten them. Season on all sides. Put half the goat's cheese on each piece of chicken and sprinkle with the thyme leaves. Fold the chicken over to enclose the cheese, then wrap each one in two slices of the bacon.
• Lightly oil a shallow gratin dish, then arrange overlapping rows of courgettes and tomatoes over the base. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and thyme sprigs. Sit the chicken on top.
• Bake for 40-45 mins until the bacon is crisp and golden and the courgettes are tender. Serve straight from the dish with new potatoes or good bread.

GOAT CHEESE AND HERB STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, make an incision in the side of each chicken breast, passing the knife though horizontally to make a slit but not cutting through the other side of the breast. With the paring knife inserted, rotate the knife to carve out a bit more space and create a pocket. Season the outside and inside of the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Lightly beat the egg white in a bowl to break it up, then add the goat cheese, parsley, tarragon, shallots, mustard and lemon zest and mix until incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a resealable plastic bag (or piping bag). Snip off a corner of the plastic bag and pipe the mixture into each chicken breast until filled.
• Heat the oil in a large ovenproof saute pan over medium-high heat until hot and glistening. Add the chicken breasts skin-side down and cook until the skin turns a dark golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the butter, garlic and thyme, then flip and transfer the pan to the oven; cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F, about 10 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

GOAT CHEESE, APRICOT, AND SAGE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium-size saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium and add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Don't let the onions and garlic brown. Next, add the chopped sage and salt and pepper to taste, and cook until the onions are translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the apricots and cook until heated through, 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Thoroughly mix in the goat cheese and set aside. (This can be made up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before stuffing the chicken breasts.)
• Place each chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. With a kitchen mallet, a cleaver, or a heavy tin can, such as a can of tomatoes, pound the breasts until they are between 1/8 and 1/4-inch thick. (They will not roll easily if they are too thick.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread about 1/4 cup of the stuffing down the center of each chicken breast. Fold up the short ends of the chicken breast, and then roll one long side jelly-roll-fashion to the other side. Tie the ends with string to secure them. Place the egg in a shallow bowl and the panko crumbs in another shallow bowl. Dip the chicken in the egg, and then roll in the panko crumbs until completely coated. In an ovenproof saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the pan and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Then put the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is a deep golden color and firm when pressed, 10 to 12 minutes.
• After the chicken breasts come out of the oven, remove the strings and put them on a warmed platter; tent with foil. Next, place the pan over high heat and deglaze it with the wine. Boil until reduced to about 1 tablespoon, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the chicken stock. Boil until reduced by half, 3 to 5 minutes, and add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and swirl in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter.
• Cut each breast in half crosswise and place one half on its side on the plate. Lean the second half against the first, facing down. Alternatively, slice breast into even slices. Drizzle with the sauce, garnish with sage leaves, and serve immediately.

GOAT CHEESE-MUSHROOM CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Place the chicken breasts, 1 by 1, between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/2-inch thick. Set aside.
• Stem the mushrooms and place the caps and stems separately in a food processor and process until finely chopped. Melt the butter in a medium-sized saute pan over medium-high heat and add the mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms have released their liquid, and saute until all the liquid has evaporated. (This is called a duxelle.) Season well with the salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Smear each chicken breast with some of the goat cheese and top with some of the duxelle. Roll the breast up and tie with the kitchen twine. Season with the salt and pepper. In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil and sear the chicken on all sides. Continue to saute until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to sit 5 minutes before removing the kitchen twine and slicing each rolled breast into 4 to 5 slices. Top with some of the remaining duxelle and several spoonfuls of the Mushroom Wine Sauce. Serve with the Sauteed Fingerling Potatoes, garnished with the chopped parsley.
• Place the shiitakes in a mixing bowl and add the boiling water. Allow to sit undisturbed 15 to 20 minutes, until the liquid is richly fragrant and has taken on the earthy flavor of the mushrooms. Strain and reserve the liquid. Discard the mushrooms or reserve for another use. In a small saute pan over medium-high heat, bring the mushroom liquid to a strong boil and reduce by half. Add the wine and chicken stock, reduce by 1/2 again. Remove from heat and add the butter, swirling the pan until the butter is incorporated and the sauce is glossy and shiny. Season with the salt and pepper.
• Using the mandoline or a knife, slice the potatoes into thin rounds of uniform thickness. Melt the butter in a large saute pan over medium-high heat and saute the potatoes until cooked through with a golden, crispy crust. Season with the salt and pepper.

CRISPY CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH MUSHROOMS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• For the chicken: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, toss in the shallots, season with salt and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Cook the shallots for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Toss the chicken livers into the pan, stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes. Toss in the mushrooms, stir to combine and season with salt. Cook the mushrooms until they are soft and wilted, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the wine and cook, stirring frequently, until the mushroom mixture is almost dry. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• Transfer the cooled mushroom mixture to a medium bowl, add the goat cheese and chives and mix until it is a homogeneous mixture. Put the mushroom mixture in a disposable piping bag and reserve.
• Using a paring knife or boning knife, make an incision in the thick end of each chicken breast. Insert the knife all the way into the chicken breast and slide it back and forth to create a pocket. Try not to poke the knife through the top or bottom of the chicken.
• Squeeze the mushroom filling into each chicken breast.
• In 3 separate wide, shallow containers, set up a standard breading procedure: one container of flour, one with the beaten egg mixture and one with the panko.
• Season the chicken breasts with salt. Using one hand for wet things and one hand for dry things, dredge each chicken breast in the flour. Dip in the egg wash and then pack panko onto each chicken breast. Lay the chicken breasts on a sheet tray and let them rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Set up a tray lined with paper towels. Take the chicken breasts out of the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Coat a large saute pan with olive oil and bring the pan to a medium-high heat. Work in batches if all the chicken breasts do not fit in the pan at the same time. Cook the chicken until well browned on both sides, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Remove the browned chicken and blot it on the paper towels; season with salt immediately. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• When all the chicken has been browned and blotted, place the chicken breasts on a wire rack set over a sheet tray and continue to cook for 10 to 15 minutes more in the oven.
• For the sauce: Meanwhile, ditch the fat from the pan and add the wine. Reduce the wine by half. Add half the chicken stock and reduce that by half. Add the remaining chicken stock and reduce that by half also (this will take a little time so be patient).
• Taste the reduced stock and season with salt if needed. Remove the pan from the heat and swirl in the butter.
• Plate the chicken and spoon the pan sauce over the chicken.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• With a chicken breast flat on a cutting board, using a sharp knife, about 1/3 of the way down the thick side, cut a deep pocket horizontally into the center of the meat about 3/4 of the way down, being careful not to cut through to the other side. (The pocket will be about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.) Repeat with the remaining breasts. Wash hands well.
• In a small bowl, mash together the goat cheese, butter, chives, parsley, thyme, lemon juice and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide into 4 equal pieces and form plugs to fit inside the chicken breasts. Insert 1 into each breast and press the edges of chicken meat to seal. Lightly season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• In a large shallow bowl, combine the flour and the Essence. In another bowl, beat the egg with the water.
• One at a time, lightly dust the chicken on both sides with the flour, then dip in the egg, shaking to remove any excess. Place again in the flour and turn to completely coat, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
• In a large, oven-proof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Arrange the risotto in the center of 4 plates and place the chicken to the side. Arrange the carrots along the bottom of the plates, and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to very low to keep hot.
• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the oil and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until wilted and their liquid is evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the grains are opaque, about 1 minute. Stir in the thyme. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until nearly all evaporated. Add 3/4 cup of the stock, the salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the stock is nearly all evaporated. Continue adding more stock 1/2 cup at a time as the previous addition is nearly absorbed, until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in cream, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and the parsley and mix well.
• Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste. If desired, stir in truffle oil to taste.
• Serve immediately, topping each portion with a sprinkling of the remaining cheese and ham.
• In a large stockpot, combine all the ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, skimming the surface occasionally to remove any foam that forms on the surface.
• Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. (If necessary, strain again.) Remove the meat from the bones and reserve for another use. Discard the bones and vegetables. Let the stock cool completely, and refrigerate overnight. Skim any fat that forms on the surface. Keep refrigerated in airtight containers until ready to use, up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• On a cutting board, using a sharp, heavy knife, cut the carrots in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise. With the flat edge down, cut into thin slices. Place the slices in a stack and slice into even matchstick pieces. (If a fine dice is required, these pieces in turn are chopped into equal small cubes.)
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the carrots and blanch until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and shock in the prepared ice bath to stop cooking and preserve color.
• When ready to serve the carrots, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. When foamy, add the carrots and cook, stirring, until warmed through and glossy, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat, sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH OLIVES AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash the goat cheese and milk together until smooth.
• Mix in the garlic, parsley, oregano, and chile flakes.
• Stir in the olives and season with salt and pepper.
• On the thickest side of each breast, cut a deep, 3-inch-long pocket.
• Using your fingers, stuff the goat cheese mixture into each pocket.
• Close by pressing the flesh together, securing with a toothpick if necessary.
• In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.
• Have ready a lid that's too small for the pan but will cover all the breasts.
• Cook the chicken on one side until golden brown, 5 to 6 minute Turn the breasts over, season with salt and pepper, and set the small lid on top of them.
• Continue to sauté until the chicken is cooked through, about another 10 minute Transfer the chicken to a warm serving plate.
• Pour the wine into the pan and cook, scraping up the flavorful brown bits stuck to the pan, until it's reduced to a glossy syrup.
• Drizzle the reduction over the chicken and serve.
• If you choose to serve with the ROASTED CHILE-CILANTRO SAUCE: In a blender or food processor, combine the poblanos, onion and lime juice and blend until smooth.
• While the blender is running, add the oil slowly until emulsified.
• Add the spinach and cilantro and blend until smooth.
• Add the honey and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve at room temperature.

CHICKEN STUFFED WITH GOAT'S CHEESE & TARRAGON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Beat together the goat's cheese, lemon zest, chilli, tarragon and some seasoning. Cut a slit in the side of each chicken breast, ensuring that you don't pierce through the other side. Using your fingers, make a pocket and stuff the cheese mix inside. Season the chicken breasts, then wrap 2 slices of prosciutto around each, covering the pocket tightly.
• Put on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and cook for 18-20 mins until cooked through but still moist, and the juices run clear.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Combine cheese and garlic in a small cup. Trim excess fat from chicken; season with salt and pepper. Using a sharp knife, cut a horizontal slit through thickest portion of each breast to form a deep pocket. Stuff each pocket with an equal amount of cheese mixture and arugula. Press edges of chicken together to seal.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken, 4 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium; add broth to pan. Cover and simmer, about 6 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately, discarding any remaining broth.

CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH APPLE AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Place chicken breast on a large sheet of waxed or plastic; cover with another sheet; pound chicken breast to 1/4 inch thickness, remove the top sheet and season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the goat cheese, lemon rind, and apple; divide the apple mixture among the chicken breast and spread the mixture evenly over half the surface of each breast; fold each breast in half and press the edges together, forming a pocket.
• Sprinkle the flour onto a sheet of waxed paper.
• In a small bowl combine the egg and water; In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
• Dust each chicken breast lightly with flour and dip into egg mixture, moistening all surfaces.
• Coat with bread crumb mixture, patting the crumbs gently in place. (The chicken can be prepared to this point several hours ahead; cover and refrigerate, when ready to cook, bring the chicken to room temperature).
• In a large, heavy skillet, heat butter and oil over medium heat; Add chicken; cook until browned and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes per side, drain on paper towels and serve.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides. Use a boning knife to cut a horizontal incision into each breast, without cutting the breast in half, creating a pocket for stuffing.
• Place each chicken breast between 2 pieces of parchment or waxed paper. Pound lightly with a mallet or small frying pan, until each breast is about 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick. When all the breasts have been pounded, rub each piece lightly all over with a little of the oil.
• Stuff each pocket with about 1 1/2 Tbsp of the goat cheese, spreading evenly, then follow with 1 slice of prosciutto and 2 sage leaves.
• Lightly beat the eggs with the water, set aside. Arrange a plate with the flour, a bowl with the eggs, and a plate with the bread crumbs on a work surface. Dredge each stuffed breast in the flour, shaking off the excess. Dip it into the beaten egg mixture, then dredge in the bread crumbs.
• Heat 2 Tbsp of the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot but not smoking, add 2 of the breaded chicken breasts to the pan. Do not overlap the pieces, or the breasts will cook unevenly. Cook for 1 minute, then lower the heat to low and continue to cook for 2 minutes more. Using tongs, keep rotating the chicken breasts on low heat, until they are cooked through.
• Transfer the chicken breasts to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm while you cook the others in the same way, adding more oil to the pan as needed. Serve at once.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH RED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Using a small, sharp knife, cut a slit down the side of each chicken breast to form the breast into a pocket. Tuck 2 slices of prosciutto inside each breast.
• Add half of the sliced garlic, the thyme and half the goat cheese, dividing these evenly between the two chicken pockets.
• Fasten the chicken pocket, using either cook's string or wooden skewers.
• In a large frying pan heat 2 tbsp of the olive oil until very hot. Add the chicken parcels, skin side-down, and fry for 5 minutes. Turn over and fry on the other side for a further 2 minutes.
• Add the remaining garlic and sliced red pepper. Add the broth and season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Bring to the boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken parcels from the pan and set aside, keeping warm. Add the remaining goat cheese to the pepper mixture. In a food processor or blender blend the pepper mixture until smooth. Heat the sauce through.
• Divide the pepper sauce among two serving plates. Top with chicken parcels, sprinkle over torn basil and serve at once.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to pan; cook 12 minutes, stirring frequently. Cover, reduce heat, and cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook 5 minutes or until golden, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly. Combine onion mixture, 1/4 teaspoon salt, cheese, parsley, milk, and thyme in a small bowl, stirring with a fork.
• 2. Cut a horizontal slit through thickest portion of each chicken breast half to form a pocket; stuff 1 1/2 Tablespoons cheese mixture into each pocket. Sprinkle chicken evenly with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• 3. Return pan to medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; saute 5 minutes; tun chicken over. Cover, reduce heat, and cook 10 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from pan; let stand 10 minutes. Add wine to pan, bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cook until reduced by half (about 2 minutes). Add broth, and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup (about 9 minutes). Serve with chicken.